AB-2785: Student services: lactation accommodations.

Would require the California Community Colleges and the California State University to provide reasonable accommodations to a lactating student on its respective campuses to express breast milk, breast-feed an infant child, or address other needs related to breast-feeding. The bill would require that these reasonable accommodations include, but are not limited to, access to a private and secure room, other than a restroom, to express breast milk or breast-feed an infant child, permission to bring onto a school campus any equipment used to express breast milk, and access to a power source for that equipment.

The American Academy of Pediatrics, California (AAP-CA), representing over 5,000 California pediatricians, supports AB 2785 (Rubio), which would require the California Community Colleges and the California State University system to provide reasonable accommodations to a lactating student on campus to express breast milk, breastfeed an infant child, or address other needs related to breastfeeding. The bill would require that these reasonable accommodations include access to a private and secure room, other than a restroom, to express breast milk or breastfeed an infant child, permission to bring onto a school campus any equipment used to express breast milk, and access to a power source for that equipment.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months, followed by continued breastfeeding as complementary foods are introduced, with continuation of breastfeeding for 1 year or longer as mutually desired by mother and infant. Breastfeeding has numerous health benefits for both mother and baby. Studies have shown that breastfeeding has a positive impact on a child’s cognitive development, reduces a child’s risk of developing chronic diseases in the future, and reduces a woman’s risk of breast and ovarian cancer.

Despite expert recommendations, the percentage of American women that exclusively breastfeed their babies for the first six months remains low, with only 24 percent of children born in 2014 falling into this category. AB 2785 (Rubio) would make it easier for lactating students to breastfeed their infant child or express breast milk while on university and college campuses in California.

Pediatrician members of AAP California Chapters 1, 2, 3 and 4 across the state urge you to vote AYE on AB 2785 (Rubio). Thank you for your public service and leadership on behalf of the health and wellbeing of children, youth, and families in California.

Sincerely,

Angela Dangvu, M.D. Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics
State Government Affairs Committee, American Academy of Pediatrics, California

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